How to overcome the initial glitch of getting the game to run after installing it from your Steam Library:
•Bug: On first initialization, the following error is encountered: [b]Freespace2/Fred2 cannot be run from a drive root directory![/b]
•Fix: Posted July 27, 2014 by user [i]Jakesnake5[/i]
A) Go to the directory that the game was installed in
B) Go to the 'data' folder
C) DOUBLE click on the file 'FS2.reg'
D) Click 'Yes' When asked if you want 'Registry Editor' to make a system change
E) Click 'Yes' When Registry Editor asks if you are sure you want that change
F) Click 'OK' when Reg Edit says it's done
G) Run the game and enjoy
Mine wasn't in the exact location as described here, but getting to the Descent Freespace 2 folder and then executing a search for "FS2.reg" brought it up for me. Followed instructions C-G and was in game immediately after. Problem solved!
[Source: https://steamcommunity.com/app/273620/discussions/0/540743757582145545/#c38596748392048711]
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GLITCH (resolved):
Act III: Mission 9 - "Clash of the Titans II" (second to last mission of game)
Objective: Escort the Bastion to the Epsilon Pegasi node
Bug: The Bastion will not navigate its programmed waypoints properly (will spin in place interminably).
Fix: Time compression (SHIFT-.) at intermittent intervals.
-It took me four tries to complete this mission as the Bastion repeatedly got stuck.
-I attempted to change difficulty settings, customized vs resetting the ship loadout to default, & time compression. None worked until...
-Using the time compression (i.e. "shift period" x2) early in the Bastion bug phase. It would get stuck, start spinning around its center of gravity, and when the Bastion was selected, the "Waypoints, Time To" indicator would freeze at regular intervals (indicating the Bastion was no longer headed towards its waypoint and was stuck).
-The first time through I killed so many enemies they actually stopped spawning as the Bastion circled forever. The final try (fourth try), I would check on the Bastion more frequently and initiate the time compression by hitting SHIFT-. twice (hold down shift, then press the period button twice) briefly until it reoriented itself, & then return to normal time (Shift-, x2). On this fourth and final time the Bastion got stuck 3 separate times (once ~9:15, once ~4:15, and once ~1:15). I executed the time compression, would watch the Bastion reorient itself, the "Waypoints, Time To" returned to normal countdown, and the mission progressed until finality.
-Huge pain, I wasn't able to focus on the mission of killing Shivans nearly as much (had to keep checking back on the Bastion) so it hurt my kill count, but this was less frustrating than the mission not ending.
-It didn't appear that changing difficulty, ships, or loadouts helped whatsoever. Even time compression didn't work the first time (if the Bastion gets "stuck" for too long it doesn't seem to be able to get out of it). Keeping a closer eye on its progression and initiating time compression sooner seemed to be the key to getting it to move.
TL;DR: Bastion gets a flat tire, have to repair it sooner rather than later (time compression) = mission will advance.
[Alternate possibility: If you fail a mission an number of times, supposedly you will receive the following notification: "You have failed this mission five times. If you'd like, you can advance to the next mission." Select the corresponding option, and move on. Lazy man's fix. 🤷]
